Hasn't there always been about 10 teams out of it before the season ever starts? Even before free agency? Before comp picks? Before the luxury tax? Before the harsher penalties started?
It's hard to think of a way to force low budget teams to spend more- not that this would guarantee they become competitive, but over time, you'd think they'd have to be good at some point, if only briefly here and there.
Raising the minimum pay would help a lot of players.
Starting the arb process a year or two earlier would spread the wealth among players more, but teams may trade their arb guys to save money.
I think the players need to push for a minimum team spending budget that rises over the term of the agreement.
More revenue sharing might help smaller teams, but only if they are mandated to spend the money gained from the share on player salary. (Ex. Let's say the league minimum team budget is set at $65M and team A gets $10M in sharing, then they'd have to have a budget of $75M, or maybe half the $10M, so $70M total.
If teams can't make it under this structure, then they should move or fold.
Sharing all local TV money would be the great evener, but it won't happen.